Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsamay’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsamay’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; intense white and purple bi-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Alstroemeria hybridacultivar Zalsamay.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida,commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Zalsamay’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program was to develop new cut flower Alstroemeriacultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive flowercolors and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in June, 1996 in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands, of a proprietaryAlstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 95115-3PN, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybridaselection identified as 93077-3PN, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands in April,1997.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions taken in acontrolled environment in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands, since September,1997, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Zalsamay have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsamay’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Zalsamay’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Erect and strong flowering stems.

2. Vigorous growth habit.

3. Intense white and purple bi-colored flowers.

4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijnsburg,The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants of thefemale parent selection.

2. Flower color of plants of the new Alstroemeria was more intense thanflower color of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijnsburg,The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter flowering stems thanplants of the male parent selection.

2. Flower color of plants of the new Alstroemeria was more intense thanflower color of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the cultivarStabec, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,041. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the newAlstroemeria differed from plants of the cultivar Stabec in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter flowering stems thanplants of the cultivar Stabec.

2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had smaller flowers than plants of thecultivar Stabec.

3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had intense white and purplebi-colored flowers whereas plants of the cultivar Stabec had white andred bi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Alstroemeria.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringstem of ‘Zalsamay’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, TheNetherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15 to 25° C.,night temperatures ranged from 10 to 15° C. and light levels averaged5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were about oneyear old. The photograph and the description were taken during Augustand September, 2002. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsamay.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as95115-3PN, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as93077-3PN, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By root divisions.

Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to 155D, incolor.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 to 30 cm. Diameter:About 3 to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Close to 155D.

Plant description:

Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance. Vigorousgrowth habit.

Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90 days.

Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 224 to 240.

Plant height.—About 125 to 154 cm.

Plant diameter (spread).—About 30 to 35 cm.

Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 130 cm.Diameter: About 4.9 to 12 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 to 4.5 cm.Strength: Strong. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.

Foliage description.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile. Length: About 16 to19 cm. Width: About 3 to 5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base:Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,glabrous. Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing and fullydeveloped foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A; moderately glossy.Developing and fully developed foliage, lower surface: Close to 137B.Venation: Upper surface, close to 137A; lower surface, close to 137B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in compoundumbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and continuously flowering.Flowers not persistent.

Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the spring in TheNetherlands.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.

Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 16 days.

Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 3 to 4 cm. Diameter: About1.3 to 1.8 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color: Greenish white with purpleblush.

Umbel length.—About 22 to 25 cm.

Umbel diameter.—About 23 to 25 cm.

Number of flowers per umbel.—About 8 to 12.

Flower length (height).—About 6.5 to 7 cm.

Flower diameter.—About 6.5 to 7 cm.

Flower depth.—About 6 to 6.5 cm.

Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each whorl with twolateral and one median segments. Size, inner perianth segments: Length:Laterals, about 6.5 to 7 cm; median, 5.5 to 6 cm. Width, laterals andmedian: About 1.8 to 2 cm. Size, outer perianth segments: Length:Laterals, about 6 to 6.5 cm; median, about 6.5 to 7 cm. Width, lateralsand median: About 3 to 3.5 cm. Shape, inner perianth, all segments:Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, all segments: Obovate. Apex, innerperianth, all segments: Acute. Apex, outer perianth, all segments:Bracket-shaped. Base, inner and outer perianths, all segments:Attenuate. Margin, inner and outer perianths, all segments: Entire;weakly undulate. Texture, inner and outer perianths, all segments:Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, inner perianth, lateral tepals: Whenopening and fully opened, upper surface: Center, 71A, surrounded by155D; towards the base, 76C; central splotch, 2A; apex tip, close to143A; spots and stripes, close to 187A. When opening and fully opened,lower surface; Center, 71A, surrounded by 155D; towards the base, 76C;central splotch, 2A. Color, inner perianth, median tepal: When openingand fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Center, 71A, surrounded by155D; spots and stripes, close to 187A. Color, outer perianth, lateraltepals: When opening and fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Center,71A, surrounded by 76D; apex tip, close to 143A. Color, outer perianth,median tepal: When opening and fully opened, upper and lower surfaces:Center, 71A, surrounded by 76D; apex tip, close to 143A.

Peduncles.—Length: About 9.5 to 11 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm.Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20 to 30° from vertical. Texture: Smooth,glabrous. Color: Close to 137A.

Pedicels.—Length: About 2.5 to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm.Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20 to 30° from vertical. Texture: Smooth,glabrous. Color: Close to 137A.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six. Anther shape:Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther diameter: About 3 mm.Anther color: Close to 147B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:Close to 202A to 202B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Style length:About 3 to 3.5 cm. Style color: Light purple. Ovary color: Close to144A.

Fruit.—Shape: Globular. Color: Brownish.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Alstroemerias.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstromeria have been observedto tolerate temperatures from −5 to 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plantnamed ‘Zalsamay’, as illustrated and described.